Means for binning and banding display shelves



March 17, 1970 B.,D. ARM5TRONG EI'AL 3,501,019

MEANS FOR BINNING AN D BANDING DISPLAY SHELVES Filed July 11, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fir-.1. TE 2.

INVENTORS BLAIR 0. ARMST R0176 8 DAVID M. MOORE Attorneys March 17, 1970 r a. o. ARMSTRONG ETAL 3,501,019

MEANS FOR BINNING AND SANDING DISPLAY SHELVES Filed July 11, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a- M oxg INVENTORS 8L All? 0. ARMSTRONG 8 DA W0 M. MOORE Attorneys Patented Mar. 17, 1970 3,501,019 MEANS FOR BINNING AND BANDING DISPLAY SHELVES Blair D. Armstrong and David M. Moore, Pittsburgh,

Pa., assignors to Armstrong Store Fixtures 'Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 11, 1968, Ser. No. 744,123 Int. Cl. A471? 5/00 US. Cl. 211-184 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Merchandise barriers or partitions are disclosed for use in confining merchandise to an area of a store display shelf. The partitions are made entirely of a plastic and include means for securing them to a display shelf either through openings provided in the shelves or to the marginal or peripheral edges of the shelves. When the partitions are applied to a. shelf, they will stand alone in an upright position and resist tiliting against an unbalanced pressure on their opposite sides. The partitions themselves are no thicker than glass partitions now commonly used and accordingly do not detract from the appearance of shelves or utilize substantial merchandise display space on the shelves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to means for binning and banding display shelves and the like, and more particularly to merchandise barriers or partitions employed with display shelves and the like as binning or banding means, such merchandise barriers or partitions having means integrally formed thereon for removably securing them in an upright position on the display shelves.

Description of the prior art It may be explained that partitions are generally used in association with shelves, merchandise display counters and like horizontal display areas either as banding members, i.e., arranged to form the ends and front and rear sides of the display areas to keep articles from falling off their edges, or as binning members, i.e., arranged diagonally or transversely across the display areas to form dividers separating the areas into compartments or bins. In most display structures, the partitions are used simultaneously both as binning and banding members. The partitions are generally secured to the shelves by the use of fastening elements in the form of brackets, clips or hooks which are received on the marginal or peripheral edges of the shelves or in the case of display shelves provided with spaced openings of circular, diamond, square or rectangular shape, by the use of hooks or other fastening means on the partitions which are received in the spaced openings.

It has heretofore been proposed to form barriers or partitions of the type herein referred to from plastic molded into an open fence-like structure in place of solid plate glass with metal supporting clips at the ends as heretofore widely used, but this has certain drawbacks, particularly in that when plastic partitions having a thickness no greater than plate glass are employed, they lack stability and wide stainless steel fitments had to be riveted to the ends of the partitions not only to anchor the partitions to the shelves but to provide the necessary stability to keep the partitions from being tilted to one side or the other. This not only increased the cost of the partitions, but detracted from their appearance. To form the partitions with adequate width would not only decrease usable shelf area but they would look cumbersome and require an excessive amount of plastic.

SUMMARY Briefly, the present invention provides an all plastic partition that eliminates wide metal elements to give it stability and one which will remain in a vertical plane but still not decrease usable space or appear more bulky than other forms heretofore used. Accordingly, the main area of the partition is molded to about the same thickness as plate glass, preferably from a clear plastic, with connecting elements to form an open grill or lattice of any preferred design. It is preferably a design which is adaptable to formation in a modular mold so that different lengths of partitions may be made on a single mold.

The bottom of the partition has an integral base or bottom rail with a laterally projecting flange extending therealong, this flange preferably being offset entirely to one side of the plane of the main partition to increase the area of contact of the structure with the shelf surface on which the partition is placed. At one end of the partition, the bottom rail with its flange continues into an integral resilient anchoring element. According to the preferred embodiment, the partition is undercut and the continuation of the rail and flange extends diagonally upwardly into the endpost of the partition itself. The undercut provides clearance for the inner downwardly projecting leg of an integral resilient, reversely curved anchoring means that is full Width of the overall width of the flanged bottom rail. Its resilience is necessary to keep proper tension on the anchoring means when the partition is in place and the width is required to assure adequate tension and also sufficient bearing area on the shelf to keep the partition in a vertical plane. The undercut arrangement enables the anchoring means to be compactly disposed close to the end of the partition and reduce the overall length of the structure.

A more complete understanding of the invention will appear from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings showing for purely illustrative purposes, embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a partition secured to a metal display shelf according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the partition and shelf shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the anchoring member of the partition shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale of the anchor member of the partition shown in FIG. 1, illustrating its normal position in solid line prior to the partition being mounted on a shelf and its shelf engaging position in dashed lines;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation and section of a modified form of the partition shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the anchor member and partition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a. partition according to the invention is shown generally t 10. The partition 10 is preferably integrally formed f a molded polycarbonate resin or other suitable plastic nd has a substantially rigid main partition body poron 12. The body portion 12 is generally rectangular ad has an integral base or bottom rail 14. The bottom ail 14 is of the same transverse width as the body poron 12 and projecting laterally along the length of the ase rail 14 is a flange 16. The bottom 18 of the flange 6 is flush with the bottom 20 of the base rail 14 to proide a bearing surface for the partition 10 wider than the lain partition body portion 12. The base rail 14 and ange 16 at the right-hand end of the partition 10 ex- :nds diagonally upwardly with the upper end of the iagonal portion 22 merging into the end 24 of the body ortion 12.

An integral resilient anchoring member or extension 26 'hich is substantially the full overall width of the flanged ase rail 14 is located in the undercut portion of the body ortion 12 that is provided by the upwardly extending ortion of the flanged base rail 14. The anchoring memer or extension 26 has a vertical downwardly extending :g 28 integrally formed on the diagonal portion 22. The :g 28 has a reversely curved portion 30 extending up- 'ardly at 31 and then downwardly at 32 from the lower rtremity of the leg 28. The downwardly turned part 32 as a longitudinally elongated foot 34 which has a pair f hooks 36 and 38 thereon for detachably clamping it a shelf. The anchor member 26 is thus integrally )rmed of a plurality of rigid successive contiguous elerents designated as 40, 42, 44 and 46 with the elements -44 being joined by intermediate arcuate flexible porons 48 and 50 to define a sinuously-shaped resiliently exible member that is interposed between the main body ortion 12 and the hooks 36 and 38. The thickness of the itermediate portions 48 and 50 is purposely made less ran the thickness of the elements 40, 42 and 44 in the )rming of the anchor member 26 to impart flexible relience to the anchor member 26. The element 46 is gidly connected with the element 44 and, as can best be :en in FIG. 5, the anchor member 26 is normally offset 'ith respect to the body portion 12, the anchor member 6 being shown in solid line in this view as it would be cated relative to the body portion 12 prior to the partion 10 being mounted on a shelf, and in dashed lines 3 it would be when the partition 10 was mounted on shelf.

The hooks 36 and 38 are integrally formed on the foot 4 which extends under anchor member 26 and integrally )rmed on the flanged base rail 14 are a pair of hooks 52 nd 54. Each of the hooks 36 and 38 has an open fixed .w 56 and 58, respectively, and each of the hooks 52 nd 54 has an open fixed jaw 60 and 62, respectively, with re jaws 56 and 58 opening oppositely from the jaws 60 nd 62.

The partition 10 is easily assembled with a display shelf 4 at any location by first inserting the hooks 36 and 38 r a given pair of perforations or spaced openings 16 rovided in the shelf. The partition 10 is then grasped and ulled in a direction to engage the open jaws 56 and 58 'ith the edge of the openings. With the hooks 36 and 38 Jgaging the shelf, the hooks 52 and 54 will be in aproximate registry with another pair of openings in the ielf. A slight downward pressure is then applied to the artition 10 in the direction of the shelf 64, and the partion is then pulled further in the same direction as was pplied thereto to engage the jaws 56 and 58. These acons will cause the foot 34 to assume its dash-line posion (FIG. and Will cause the anchor portion 26 to retch slightly, and the hooks 52 and 54 will enter the :cond pair of openings. The part tion is then released 1d the resilience of the anchor member 26 will then trust the jaws of the hooks 36, 38, 52 and 54 firmly into igagement with the respective edges of the openings Ilth which they are engaged.

By reason of its construction, the partition 10 can be used either on the left or right side of a generally rectangular shelf, thereby eliminating the need of having right-hand and left-hand partitions, and of course it can be secured along the front or rear longitudinal edge of a shelf. In either application, the partition may be placed right up to the peripheral edge of a shelf and the width of the flanged base rail 14 and the width of the anchor member 26 will provide a suflicient bearing area on the shelf to keep the partition in a vertical plane and the tension of the anchor member 26 will secure the partition to the shelf and prevent accidental dislodging of the partition from the shelf.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 6, a modified form of partition is shown generally at 100. The partition member has a main partition body portion 112, a flanged base rail 114 and a resilient anchor portion 126 integrally formed therewith that are similar to those of the partition 10. Partition 100 differs from partition 10 in that it has modified hook means integrally formed thereon that preferably engage the marginal longitudinal edges of a shelf, but which can also be utilized to engage openings in the shelf if so desired. This type partition and modified hook means is preferably employed with glass shelving. As shown, the terminal portion of the element 144 has a single hook or bifurcated shelf engaging clamp 146 having a fixed jaw or opening which is directed toward the opposite end of the partition on which the anchor member 126 is located, and on the flanged rail 114 there is integrally formed therewith a single hook 152 having a fixed jaw opening oppositely to the jaw of the clamp 146.

To secure partition member 100 to a shelf, the open jaw of the clamp 146 is first engaged with one of the longitudinal edges of a shelf, and then the resilient anchor member 126 is slightly stretched by applying a force to the partition 100 in the manner above described with reference to the partition 10, thus allowing the hook 152 to clear the opposite longitudinal edge of the shelf, and when the tension of the anchoring member 126 is released, the resilience of the anchor member 126 will thrust the hooks firmly into engagement with the edge portions of the shelf.

It will be evident, however, that the partition 100 can be dimensioned such that it may be assembled with a shelf by inserting the hooks 146 and 152 into openings provided in the shelf in the manner that the hooks of the partition 10 were inserted into the openings in a shelf.

In FIG. 7, there is shown a modified form of anchor member 226. Comparing FIGS. 4 and 7, it will be noted that the partition 200 in FIG. 7 is not provided with an undercut portion adjacent the anchor member 226, but rather, the flanged base rail 214 and end post 216 of the partition 200 are joined at right angles, and the anchor 226 is integrally formed at the juncture of these portions. The anchor member 226 has a vertical leg 242 joined through a bend 248 at its lower end with the flanged base rail 214 and has another leg 244 joined at its upper end through a bend 250 with the top of the leg 242. The leg 244 has an integral bifurcated shelf engaging clamp 246 formed thereon similar to clamp 146 of the partition 100. The thickness of portions or bends 248 and 250 are made purposely of lesser thickness than the legs 242 and 244 to impart flexible resilience to the anchor member 226 just as the intermediate portions 48 and 50 of anchor member 26 were made of lesser thickness than the legs 40, 42 and 44 to impart flexible resilience to the anchor member 26. The partition 200 is secured to a shelf in the manner above described with reference to the partition 100.

From-the foregoing, the invention and its numerous advantages will be understood, and it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein.

We claim:

1. A partition for display shelves and the like comprising (a) a substantially rigid plastic body portion having a base rail with a flange projecting laterally along the length of the base rail with the bottom of the flange being flush with the bottom of the base rail to provide a bearing surface for the partition wider than the body portion,

(b) means integrally formed with the body portion for removably securing the body portion to a display shelf and the like, the latter means comprising (1) a resilient anchor member at one end of the body portion comprising a vertical downwardly extending leg substantially the full overall width of the rail and flange depending from an upwardly extending portion of the flanged base rail and having a hook with an open jaw thereon for engaging a first portion of the display shelf and the like;

(2) second means at the opposite end of the body portion for engaging a second portion of the display shelf and the like.

2. A partition for display shelves and the like as defined in claim 1 wherein the second means comprises a second hook having a jaw opening oppositely from the jaw of the first hook.

3. A partition for display shelves and the like comprising (a) a substantially rigid body portion having a base rail with a flange projecting laterally along the length of the base rail with the bottom of the flange being flush with the bottom of the base rail to provide a bearing surface for the partition wider than the body portion,

(b) means integrally formed on the flanged base rail for removably securing the body portion to a display shelf and the like, the latter means comprising,

(1) a resilient anchor member comprising a plurality of successive contiguous rigid elements joined by intermediate flexible portions to define a sinuously-shaped resiliently-flexible member interposed between a first hook at one end of the flanged base rail and the rigid body portion, the first hook having an open jaw for engaging a first portion of the display shelf and the like, and

(2) a second hook at the opposite end of the flanged base rail having a jaw opening oppositely from the jaw of the hook of the anchor member for engaging a second portion of the display shelf and the like.

4. A partition for display shelves and the like as defined in claim 3 wherein the display shelf is provided with a plurality of spaced openings in the shelf and its open jaw engages the edge of the first opening and the second hook extends through a second opening in the shelf and its jaw engages the edge of the second opening.

5. A partition for display shelves and the like as defined in claim 3 wherein the display shelf has forward and rear longitudinal edges and the open jaw of the first hook engages one of the edges of the display shelf and the open jaw of the second book engages the other edge of the display shelf.

6. A partition for display shelves and the like comprising (a) a substantially rigid body portion having a base rail with a flange projecting laterally along the length of the base rail with the bottom of the flange being flush with the bottom of the base rail to provide a bearing surface for the partition wider than the body portion,

(b) means integrally formed on the flanged base rail for removably securing the body portion to a display shelf and the like, the latter means comprising,

(1) a resilient anchor member at one end of the flanged base rail, the anchor member including a plurality of successive contiguous elements comprising first, second and third rigid elements with the first element being joined to the flanged base rail and the first and second elements and the second and third elements being joined by intermediate flexible portions and with the third element having a first hook with an open jaw at its terminal portion, for engaging a first portion of the display shelf and the like, and

(2) a second hook at the opposite end of the flanged base rail having a jaw opening oppositely from the jaw of the hook of the anchor member for engaging a second portion of the display shelf and the like.

7. A partition for use in confining merchandise on a display shelf area comprising an integral molded plastic structure comprising:

(a) a main partition body,

(b) an integral base rail for the main partition body having a flange projecting laterally along its length with the bottom of the flange being flush with the bottom of the rail to provide a bearing surface for the structure wider than the main partition body, and

(c) an integral anchoring extension at one end of the rail and flange which is substantially the full overall width of the rail and flange, the extension having a vertical leg joined through a bend at its lower end with the rail and flange and having a second leg joined at its upper end through a bend with the top of the first leg, the second leg having means thereon for clamping it to a shelf.

8. A partition as defined in claim 7 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a foot at the lower end of the second leg having a bifurcated shelf engaging clamp with an opening which is directed toward the opposite end of the structure from the end on which the anchoring extension is located.

9. A partition for use in confining merchandise on a display shelf area comprising an integrally molded plastic structure having (a) a main partition body of an open grill-like structure,

(b) an integral base rail for the main partition body having a flange projecting laterally therefrom flush with the bottom of the base rail to provide a bearing surface wider than the main partition body, the base rail and flange at one end of the main partition body extending diagonally upwardly with the upper end of the diagonal portion merging into the end of the main partition body, and

(c) an integral resilient anchoring means having a downwardly extending leg integrally formed on the diagonal portion, the leg having a reversely curved portion extending upwardly and then downwardly from the lower extremity of the leg, the downwardly turned part of the anchoring means having a longitudinally elongated foot with means thereon for detachably clamping it to a shelf.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,908 1/ 1951 McKeehan 21 1--l 84 2,855,258 10/1958 Moncier 211-184 2,884,139 4/1959 Dunham 211184 2,933,195 4/1960' Radek 211-184 MARION PARSONS, 111., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 108-61 

